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moderates, like Benton, were not so sure of it. Buchanan, in a letter marked "private & confidential and not written as Secre29 "The message has been better tary of State," told McLane, received throughout the country than any similar communication to Congress in my day. All moderate men are conciliated
whilst the fire-eaters are satisfied with its by our offer of 49 withdrawal & the assertion of our whole claim. This is the feeling which pervades the whole Democratic party & a very
large proportion of the Whigs."
The newspapers, which during October and November, had been alternately predicting that war was inevitable and that negotiations would succeed, judged from the Message that the negotiations had failed and that "either England or the United States must back out of Oregon, or fight for it." 30 Neverthewhile the first less even the editors were a little puzzled the that the negotiation was impression "hasty reading" gave ended further consideration seemed to cast doubt on this conclusion. 31 The total silence of the Message on taking steps in preparation for war seemed to mean that the Administration did not expect hostilities, but a tumble in stocks which came a week later showed that the market was uneasy. After the Message the pendulum swung from war to peace, and along with popular speculation as to the international result the political significance of the whole thing was worrying the Democratic party. While the South could undoubted32 this would mean a ly "save the country" and prevent war in the break the union of West and South should southern Democracy prevent war and in so doing allow the protective;
anti-Texas-Oregon wing of the party be in the ascendant, with Wright, Benton & Company wielding the sceptre? Polk, too, was impressed with the political capital which was made out 29 Works of James Buchanan, VT, 342. For weeks the Register had gleaned th 30 Mies' Register, 6 Dec., 1845. papers for expressions of opinions, and had printed them under the caption, "Peace or War.' The Message comment was headed, "Our worst anticipations have been realized." fiery article in the Union, just before Congress assembled, had claimed "All Oregon or none." 31 Nat. Intelligencer, 6 Dec. 33 Charleston Mercury, quoted in Nat. Intelligence, 17 Nor.
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